RidgeView Sparkling wines wins top gastronomic award

RidgeView Merret Sparkling Wines have been named as the product that has done the most for gastronomy in the last 12 months by the British Academy of Gastronomes.

Each year the Egon Ronay-founded Academy picks out the person, the venture of the product that it believes has made the biggest contribution in the last 12 months.

Mike Roberts, founder and director of RidgeView, the English wine producer, picked up the award last night at an awards ceremony at London's Dorchester hotel. He said: "It is a fantastic mark of respect for our family company and English sparkling wines in general."

The award is the first of its kind to be presented to an English wine producer. Previous winners include Jane Grigson, Albert and Michel Roux, Somerset Cheddar and Prince Charles for the revival of mutton.

The British Academy of Gastronomes was founded by Egon Ronay in 1983. Its aim is to encourage the improvement of the standard of food and beverages in the UK and Ireland.

RidgeView has won 80 medals and 16 trophies since it started producing wine eight years ago.